Ron Paul Watch, with Ron Paul, Presidential Candidate: Day Eight

Little-known fact: Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) was one of eight participants in last night’s Republican presidential debate. Viewers who looked really closelyand stayed very stillcould see him just to the right—spatially, ideologically—of fellow Texan Rick Perry.

At approximately the nine-and-a-half-hour mark, Paul memorably condemned the lascivious misconduct perpetrated by lonely Transportation Security Administration officials ravenous for the fleeting warmth of the human touch. “These T.S.A. agents are abusive,” Paul said. “Sometimes they’re accused of all kinds of sexual activities on the way they maul people at the airport.” Moderator Brian Williams then wished him a happy departure from LAX.

Back in July, on his radio program, Paul supplied a more thorough account of such abuses: “Ninety-five-year-old women humiliated, children molested, disabled people abused. Men and women subjected to unwarranted groping and touching of their most private areas, and involuntary radiation exposure.” Is “groping” ever warranted? It’s not strictly a political question—more of a semantic one.

In other news, The Watch made an amazing discovery: typing “Rep Ron Paul” very quickly or very late at night occasionally produces the words “Re Pron Paul,” which sounds like some sort of irascible Libertarian crustacean. Re Pron Paul (R-The Ocean).